RAMALLAH (Ma’an) -- President Mahmoud Abbas warned on Thursday that without the pledged Arab "safety net" for the Palestinian coffers, Palestine will be in a difficult situation.

The Arab League states pledged to pay Abbas' Palestinian Authority $100 million a month, but has yet to deliver. Abbas said at a PLO meeting that the leadership was using "all possible means" to push for the funds.

The president noted that Israel's seizure of tax revenues had worsened the financial crisis, and slammed the continued building of settlements.

He warned that Israel as an occupying power had no right to change the geography or demography of the occupied Palestinian land.

"We hope that the year of 2013 will be a good year for the Palestinian people and the whole world," he told the meeting.

"We also hope that Israel will return to its senses and understand that peace is in its interests and the interests of their children and the interests of the Palestinian generations and the whole world," he continued.

1 ) Tibi / Tubas

03/01/2013 21:43

As the situation exists now, Palestine already faces hardship, but without international donations from the USA and EU, Palestine would have NO government, and now "after burning that bridge", Palestine will have to find other "Arab 'safety net'" benefactors, which have already proven unreliable, so likely soon Palestine will have NO government, leading to a permanent situation of One-State (Israel) and No-State (Palestine) in Areas A/B & Gaza.

Palestinians should go to their biggest friends and supporters - Russia, China, South Africa, Venezuela, Brazil and Turkey and ask for money. We will see if they would support palestinians with hard currency as good as they are supporting them with soft words. But I am afraid that everybody knows the result.

4 ) Complain / Demand

03/01/2013 22:22

For how long we would listen to palestinians complains and demands? We are fed up with them. Enough is enough.

5 ) Reader / from Edmonton

03/01/2013 22:29

Israel must stop its illegal activities during its occupation of Palestine. Israelis must return behind they legal borders.

6 ) Mex(fr) / Tex

03/01/2013 23:05

Did Abbas have the right to change the geography or demography of Judea and Samaria? Didn't his "election" run out in 2009? Has he been re-elected lately? Who is he speaking for? His tribe? Where has he salted away all the ginormous funds that European 88's have donated? Is that how he paid for his dacha in dubai?

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